Phase+2+—+Data+Collection

MySpace profiles I did a search of MySpace members 18 years old and living within 5 miles of the 10030 zip code. After viewing dozens of profiles, I narrowed my focus to the following pages: http://www.myspace.com/princess_kira26 http://www.myspace.com/yungweezyd http://www.myspace.com/lildonz144 http://www.myspace.com/youngace99 http://www.myspace.com/212harlem212 These pages all provide insight into how these teenagers choose to communicate. The pages also include music and photos that I plan to include in my study. The music particularly will be valuable in linguistic study. The influence of pop culture cannot be underestimated in the way any teenager speaks. Based on these pages, I’m not entirely convinced that Ebonics/African American English is a prevalent language among Harlem students. What I saw on these pages suggests that Harlem students, like their counterparts in other areas, from other ethnicities favor a language that more closely resembles textspeak and other forms of contemporary slang.

Newspapers http://www.nypost.com/f/print/news/local/hizzoner_wins_big_with_ny_undecided_RKuKn0caMkuTZTwFfB7F4O http://www.courant.com/features/sns-200910260609mctnewsservbc-moms-dirtylaundry-sl,0,930485,print.story http://www.amsterdamnews.com/articles/2009/10/30/news/doc4ae8b5c193fbc196703055.prt
 * Rollingout.com — free N.Y. music newspaper found at a restaurant in 10030**
 * The Village Voice — found throughout the community**
 * Harlem News — community newspaper found in 10030 area**
 * Carribbean Life — free local newspaper**
 * The Thinker — Muslim newspaper**
 * Misc. print pamphlets and papers collected throughout the community**

Community I’ve selected the following links for what they convey about the Harlem community I am studying. The census data provides demographic information about the 10030 neighborhood. The Facebook Page for Democracy Prep caught my attention because it shows the language a school uses with its students and the medium it uses. I am hoping to observe Democracy Prep students for the project. I found it interesting, but not entirely surprising, that the school chose to use Standard English on its page. In my opinion, this move is revealing about the school’s position on Standard English and Ebonics/Black English. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=&geo_id=86000US10030&_geoContext=01000US|86000US10030&_street=&_county=&_cityTown=&_state=&_zip=10030&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=860&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=&show_2003_tab=&redirect=Y http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=86000US10030&-qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_QTP17&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&-redoLog=false []


 * Interviews**
 * Marcus Ewing, Coordinator, Harlem Children’s Zone**
 * Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School**

Youtube clips Youtube is filled with videos about African American students in Harlem and other communities. The clips I’m including here are among my favorite. I can’t help but wonder if the students were coached before going before the camera. As someone who is not student teaching, these clips offer glimpses into how students interact with each other and adults. http://www.democracyprep.org/image/tid/16 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxXiVH47P-s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njBEryfdmLc&NR=1&feature=fvwp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN_AOVWirzo&feature=related

Scholarly works These articles all add to the conversation of African American English/Ebonics and what its social implications are. Delpit, L. & Dowdy, J. K. (2002). The skin that we speak: Thoughts on language and culture in the classroom. NY: The New Press. Introduction, Chapters 2-3, 6 Baldwin, James (1963). A Talk To Teachers Baldwin, James (1979). If Black English Isn’t a Language, then Tell Me What It Is.

[]**
 * Community pictures


 * Bold text indicates updated information**